Producing gasoline from natural gases



E. B. BIRD PRODUCING GASOLINE FROM NATURAL GASES Jan. 17, 1928. 1,656,813

Filed March 19, 1927 Emu/Mu Zia/JIM Patented Jan. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

sauna B. man, or n'r'rnn noon, nannsas.

rnonucme exsonmn m Hartman ensue.

Application flied Iarch 19, N27. Serial No. 176,827.

The present invention conteniplates roduction of low boiling hydrocarbons, suc as gasoline, from permanent gases, such as are usually to be obtained from oil and gas wells,

.or other sources;

It has been found that when, for example, natural gases are treated in accordance with y process, that gasoline of excellent quality may be produced.

, The'invention consists in utilizing natural as or other hydrocarbon vapors,.and pre- 0' heating such gas up to a temperature of approximately 500 C.,depending, of course,

- upon the particular gas being utilized.

Thereafter, the heated gas is passed through a tube or battery of tubes containing catalytic material.

The tubes in question may be of metal or glass, or any suitable piping, as may be found most convenient. Disposed within the catalytic tube are the materials which exert a beneficial action upon the heated gas. It

withthe rapidity of expansion of the gas.

may be stated here, that the gas, when it is supplied to-the catalytic tube, possesses a. temperature below 500. C., and I have found I At this point, it should also be explained that ordinarily no -pressure isapplied mechanically to the fluid in order to ropel'it,

but if the gas pressure is not su cient, an appropriate booster pump may be utilized to force it through the apparatus.

The catalytic material consists of asbestos fibres, or other porous materials, which are saturated with solutions of the common metals, such as nickel and copper nitrate, and

.which have also been treated with salts of noble metals, such as the manate-0r gold, platinum and palladium. The catalyzer 1S retained in position in the treating chamberybfone by means of 'a series 7 of spaced screens to which it may be attached and which-serve to maintain the material in the path-of the gas, so that the gas will pass through'a maximum amount of the catalyzer. r I

It will be understood, ofcourse, that hydrogen is passed through the tube in order to-reduce the metals, and it is further desirable to pass an inert gas, such as. carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or steam, over the reduced material to' free it of any hydrogenwhich has found its way into the porous catalyzer. i It is found that the catalytic material so deposited and treated, is substantially a mixture of the common and nobler metals.

It is quite desirable, with some natural gases, at times to incorporate with the gas under treatment, approximately 5% of acetylene, since this has a 'very beneficial efi'ect.

This percentage would be varied slightly for tlifierent gases. The acetylene gas is usually independentl' heated to a temper: ature of approximate y 400 C. but, may be of course, heated along with the gas under treatment, if desired.

The acetylene under heat will polymerize to benzine, which has a very beneficial efiect on the process, enabling the liquid product tobe readily formed, and also increasing the yield' of gasoline.

I The gas whichis emitted from the catalyzer tubes is passed to acondensing apparatus of any suitable character, and the con- 1 densed fluid is drawn off to a suitable storage container.

. After passing through the treating plant, some dry flgas will be catalyzed to wet gas, but not su condenser. This wet gas 'may be removed by compression'or absorption,-for 'the purpose of making natural gasoline. The waste ciently catalyzed to liquefy in the 1 gas from this latter treatment may be used as fuel or returned to the system for treatment'.

This process is probably best carried out with the gas' obtained from naturalgas wells, and it is immaterial whether the gas be wet or dry as.

"Theyield o hightest gasoline is exceptional, and theproces' s' is speedy and obvious- 1y simple, requiring no pressure and relatetlvely low temperature, and practically any.

ex lained may be set up and utilized.

he figure is a diagrammatic flow sheet the invention.

'' In the drawing appended hereto, the

ty e of apparatus having the "requirements type of apparatus for carrying .Ol it 7 meral A indicates a gas-well having a s'uit able pipe communicating with a preheater: ..B. The heated gas is then passed to a chambercon'taining the catalytic material. indi- :fiatedat C. From the catalytic chamber, the gas is passed to a condenser ,end ;thence=fimto the sto receptacle E. Un-

gas collecting in the storage 112- ceptaclemay escape to a compressor or ab sorption plant F, and any gas not hquefied .by this apparatus may be returned to the 9 system through the pipe G. The letters H and I indicate temperature indicating means D such as thermometers, the thermometer. H

registering the temperature of the treating and the thermometer I registering the temperature-of the gases which lscharge i from and tree chamber. v. Yhfiflisclaim afsnewisg -l bo roceso prcnngow 1hng '-liquid by ns which comprises subamix ture of natural gas and a small nfofacetylene to intimate contact ytic agent of common metals without mechan- .Iim'd between a temperature of I m fitto produce hydrocarbons whichare-i-ecQvjeredin liquid form.

liquid By lwlnc comprises sub 2. The grocesgog prepaging low jecting natural gas to intimate contact with a porous catalytic t of common and nobler 'c me without mechanical -a temperature betiveen 400 C. and 600 C.

to roduce hydrocarbons which are. in ui d form. j

4. he process of preparing low boiling liquid hyroca-rbons which comprises' preheating a-mixture of natural gas and a small proportion of soot len passing the preheat- 45 ed mixture through a porous catalytlc nt comprising commontand noblercatf 'c metals without mechapical pressure, an at a tempelature between 400 C. and-500MGw to Produce hydrocarbons which are recovered Q 1n iquid form. 

